Let's cut right to the chase. Simply put, the program for
job creation that President presents to the Congress and the American people on
September 8th, will be his last and final
chance to prove that he is capable of leading this nation. Should he once again
fail to show leadership, courage and conviction in addressing this issue, his
presidency will, in effect, be over and he will become totally irrelevant.

Let's put aside all this nonsense between the White House
and John Boehner relative to when President Obama will present his speech on
job creation to a joint session of Congress. Who cares when he gives it as long
as he attacks this issue head on and tells the American people what they have long
been waiting to hear. So on Thursday, September 8th, Mr. Obama,
whether he knows it or not, will be making the most important speech of his
life.

The last poll I saw indicated that two-thirds of the
American people disapprove of his handling of the economy. That is simply
astounding when we consider that many of the people polled had to have been liberals,
progressives and independents; many of whom formerly supported him. It also is
a clear indication that if he, once again, fails to address this country's #1
problem and presents some kind of lukewarm, watered down plan, then he can kiss
his second term goodbye.

In anticipating this crucial presentation, I thought about
how I would address this issue if I were the president of the United States. What
would I do if I were faced with this monumental problem that is destroying this
economy and causing great anguish in the lives of millions of Americans who
desperately want to work but can't find a job? What kind of plan would I
develop and how would I present it to the American people?

The plan I would propose would identify each major element
of this jobs initiative that would directly address this central need: to get
the largest number of Americans back to work just as quickly as possible.
Without a doubt, the major thrust of this jobs creation program must involve
the repair and rebuilding of America's
infrastructure, roads, highways, bridges, the electrical grid and, also, the
repair of thousands of schools that are deteriorating.

It should also include specific incentives for small
businesses that employ new workers and extra generous incentives for companies
who produce energy-saving products or are developing new sources of energy. That's
all it would need to include. And if this president learned anything from the
previous highly criticized government stimulus program, this time the specific projects
should be absolutely shovel ready and a full-time administration team assigned
the responsibility to closely monitor all aspects of the individual projects.

The next most important part of this job creation
initiative is the presentation that this president will make to the Congress
and the American people. Mr. Obama needs to start off with a strong statement about
the urgent need to use the power of this government to shore up this economy
through job creation, as a necessary but temporary measure during this crisis.
It must be presented with boldness and passion to energize the people, to motivate
them and to get their full support. Nothing else matters except how the people
react. With them fully supporting his jobs program it will have great momentum;
if they have no faith in what they hear, well, let's not even talk about that.

In this presentation, there should be no reference to the
Republicans, no criticism of their obstructionism, and he must not dare to use
that now highly disturbing word - compromise. Republicans may be
sitting in that gallery but they should be treated merely as spectators; his primary
target must be the people of America,
especially those many millions who are battling to survive and are desperate.
The gist of the presentation should be to spell out the intended plan in as
much detail as possible, show how it can bring immediate relief to the problem
and, in this way, send this clear message to the GOP: "If you try to kill or
obstruct what the people want and support, you will commit political suicide."

The next phase of this process would be for Mr. Obama to bring
the presidential bully pulpit to the Oval Office and to use it to communicate
directly to the American people. This should be done with regularity to
continue to reinforce his proposals and to motivate the people to demand that
the Congress act swiftly and responsibly. He needs to force the hand of the GOP
obstructionists and, literally, paint them into a corner from which they can't
free themselves unless they follow the wishes of the people.

The Republicans must be put on the defensive so that there
is no possible way that they can stifle or block this jobs creation program
without feeling the wrath and intense anger of the people. Thus far in Mr.
Obama's presidency they have been on the offense, framing the agenda and
controlling the issues, refusing to address and solve this nation's most critical
problems. This will be the perfect time to clearly expose them for what they
are, a detriment to America.

Above all, President Obama must present himself as a
strong, decisive leader and shed his reputation as a weak president and a
compromiser of the highest order. He needs to stop thinking about himself and
his second term, and think only about America and its people; he needs to
do everything in his power to solve this crisis by presenting a well-designed,
meaningful program that will generate jobs and restore the economy. At this point, he has everything to gain and
nothing to lose; therefore, he must risk his entire political career if that is
what it takes.

When I say that this is his last chance, I mean just that.
He will not get a second chance to address this issue. Job creation, using the
resources of the government, is the only way that millions of unemployed and
underemployed Americans can be rescued from the brink of personal disaster. It
is the only way to restore our battered economy.

Not only is this the last chance for this president, it
may well be the last chance for this nation.

Michael Payne

Michael Payne is an independent progressive activist. His writings deal with social, economic, political and foreign policy issues; and especially with the great dangers involved with the proliferation of perpetual war, the associated defense (more...)